Steve Constantino, the service manager for Yellow Cab, expresses his opinion on the rideshare debate prior to the start of a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.

Steve Constantino, the service manager for Yellow Cab, expresses his opinion on the rideshare debate prior to the start of a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.

Photo: Photos By Robin Jerstad / For The San Antonio Express-News

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Police Chief William McMannis looks over notes prior to the beginning of a City Concil Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss the rideshare debate.

Police Chief William McMannis looks over notes prior to the beginning of a City Concil Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss the rideshare debate.

Photo: Robin Jerstad

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City Council Public Safety Committee members Rebecc Viagran (left) and Chris Medina (right) liste to Police Chief William McMannis during a hearing regarding the rideshare debate.

City Council Public Safety Committee members Rebecc Viagran (left) and Chris Medina (right) liste to Police Chief William McMannis during a hearing regarding the rideshare debate.

Photo: Robin Jerstad

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A taxi regulations supporter shows their support during a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.

A taxi regulations supporter shows their support during a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.

Photo: Robin Jerstad

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Lyft drivers listen to Luis Gonzalez of the marking firm OCI Group, as he tells them about the prodceedures for the City Council Public Safety Committe hearing on the rideshare debate.

Lyft drivers listen to Luis Gonzalez of the marking firm OCI Group, as he tells them about the prodceedures for the City Council Public Safety Committe hearing on the rideshare debate.

Photo: Robin Jerstad

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Alejandro Nunez, a driver for Lyft, discusses the service prior to a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday.

Alejandro Nunez, a driver for Lyft, discusses the service prior to a City Council Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday.

Photo: Robin Jerstad

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Council panel delays action for ride-sharing companies

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SAN ANTONIO — The City Council Public Safety Committee declined Wednesday to take action on proposed changes to the city's vehicle-for-hire ordinance in a way that would have allowed ridesharing companies Lyft and Uber to operate here legally.

Instead, the four council members said they want to more closely study city staff's proposed revisions and to “reengage” a task force, in order to examine the issue. A task force of ridesharing companies and traditional vehicle for hire services like taxis had previously been convened to hammer out a compromise, but those talks eventually fell apart.

An official with Lyft, in town for the council committee meeting, gave no indication the company plans to cease operations despite Wednesday's outcome.

It was clear at the council committee meeting that the taxi and limo industries remain at an impasse with the ridesharing companies. About 90 people signed up to speak at the meeting, with the vast majority represented the traditional vehicle for hire industries, not Lyft and Uber.

Lyft and Uber, which the city calls transportation network companies or TNCs, connect nonprofessional drivers with passengers via smart phone apps. There are no monetary transactions between riders and drivers; riders set up accounts with the companies when they download the apps, so the services already have their credit card information.

As they have done in cities across the country, Lyft and Uber burst onto the San Antonio transportation scene in March and were met with immediate resistance from the cab and limo industry. The San Antonio Police Department also issued them cease and desist orders, but they have continued to operate.

For more on this developing story, go to ExpressNews.com or read Thursday's edition of the Express-News.